#

Broadband Task Force

City Manager Richard C. Rossi has appointed a Task Force to examine broadband service in Cambridge and evaluate the city’s internet infrastructure. The Task Force will examine options to increase competition, reduce pricing, and improve speed, reliability and customer service for both residents and businesses. Additionally, the Task Force will investigate scenarios for leveraging the City’s current or future fiber assets to expand access to broadband services, such as service to Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) properties.

The following are tentative meeting dates of the Broadband Task Force. Meeting agendas will be posted on the City's Calendar:

July 30, 2015

Sep 16, 2015

Nov 18, 2015

Jan 20, 2016 (Rescheduled to Jan. 27)

March 2, 2016

March 16, 2016 (Cancelled)

April 12, 2016

April 27, 2016

May 18, 2016

June 1, 2016

June 9, 2016

June 14, 2016 (Cancelled)

August 9, 2016

August 23, 2016 (Rescheduled. Date TBD)

September 13, 2016

October 13, 2016

October 18, 2016

The work of the Task Force will help to ensure that Cambridge remains a world-class City in which to live, work, innovate and learn. The final report of the committee will assist the City in planning for the future and setting realistic expectations with the public, as creating alternative solutions to single provider internet service can take years to fully implement.

The Task Force will meet every other month for 12 to 18 months and will be charged with:

Engaging the broader community, including residents, business and university partners, in understanding their current and future broadband needs;

Understanding and documenting the existing broadband and fiber infrastructure – both private and public;

Examining best practices and models used by other municipalities across the United States to improve access to broadband services;

Developing a range of alternatives for improving access to broadband services, including: working with existing providers, increased private competition, a mesh network, a municipal fiber network connected to public housing properties, a municipal fiber backbone throughout the city and a complete municipal broadband network;

Evaluating each alternative by conducting an analysis of the level of service provided, cost to customers and to the City, customer service, sustainability and flexibility of the system to adapt to improving technologies;

Creating business models for providing internet service that include: funding, cost recovery, governance model, and subscription structure, including options for people with limited ability to pay; and